Thomas Winthrop Coit (1803-1885) was the author of the printed book, A theological Common-place Book, which contains a pre-printed index of theological terms. The actual content of the commonplace book includes notes, clippings, and pamphlets that were produced after the book was purchased. The creator of this content is unknown by name, yet the contents point to an educated clergy member of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America who flourished in the latter half of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains one printed book with copious handwritten notes, clippings, and publications inserted throughout. The volume is published as follows: Thomas W. Coit, A Theological Common-place Book: With a Copious Index (3rd edition; New York: Daniel Dana, 1857). The commonplace book contains 320 printed page numbers with the first 52 pages containing the prefaces and index compiled by Thomas W. Coit. The owner of the book provided additional handwritten entries in the index and contributed the actual content of the book. The subject matter of the book is primarily biblical, theological, and ecclesiastical topics. Many of the topics deal with ecclesiastical matters pertaining specifically to the Episcopal or Anglican Church. Numerous newspapers articles are tipped in and there is one Order of Service from the controversial consecration of Reginald Heber Weller as bishop coadjutor of Fond Du Lac, which is sometimes referred to as the "Fond du Lac Circus." Most of the contributions are in English, although there are occassional references written in Greek and Latin. Since the book was printed in 1857, the content cannot be older than that. The majority of the references and included materials range from the 1860s to the 1890s. The last known reference is to 1909.